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1891 Map of Cumberland Gap

Name: 1891 Topographic Map of Cumberland Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1900
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1900

About this map

Cumberland Gap serves as the focal point of this late 19th-century reconnaissance, where the borders of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia converge amidst a complex system of ridges. The Cumberland River carves a winding path through the center of the region, passing the significant settlements of Barboursville and Pineville. Transportation in this era relied heavily on river crossings, evidenced by Tye Ferry and river crossings like Mshenry Ford and Campbell Ford.

The landscape is defined by massive parallel formations including Pine Mountain, Log Mountains, and the Mingo Mountains. These peaks, including landmarks like Pinnacle and Rocky Face, illustrate the formidable natural barriers that early travelers faced. Small communities and gaps such as Flat Lick, Calloway, and Butcher Gap provide insight into the scattered settlement patterns of the Appalachian frontier before the turn of the century.